Cape Chikyu

A scenic cape jutting into the Pacific Ocean from the southernmost tip of the Etomo Peninsula in Muroran, Hokkaido, where you can look out over the Pacific from cliffs rising more than 100 meters high. The cape offers a sweeping 360-degree panorama, and on clear days you can see Hokkaido Komagatake, Mount Esan in Hakodate, and even the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. If you're lucky, you may also spot dolphins and whales migrating through the area from spring to summer.

The view from the observation deck is especially beautiful at sunrise, and on New Year's Day many people come from outside the prefecture to see the year's first sunrise. The cape is also home to Chikyu Misaki Lighthouse, first lit in 1920, whose pure white tower, rare in cold regions, stands out vividly against the blue sea and sky. The lighthouse is usually closed to the public, but it is opened on occasions such as Marine Day.

There are walking paths in the surrounding area, where you can enjoy a refreshing forest walk while admiring seasonal flowers. The cape is also a stopover point for migratory birds and is known as a nesting site for peregrine falcons that prey on them.